I remember vividly the prices I paid for a week long stay just 10 years ago. Today, for the same room, same resort and same week, prices have more than doubled. Two years ago, we booked through VRBO.com and saved quite a bit of money. The individual condo owners advertise that they are up to 40% cheaper than booking directly through the hotel or resort. However, as I mentioned, the resorts are charging more than double what they used to. Guess what? So are the owners!!!!!

Myrtle Beach is slowly becoming unaffordable for even a middle class family of four. I can't fathom the idea of spending $1200 for a week in a room that I hardly spend any time in. I'm spoiled by having been always had a room oceanfront and I won't accept anything less. I'd rather stay home than pay these ridiculously inflated prices. This year, THAT may just happen. Cheers :-(

I noticed that these Cyber Monday sales aren't really as big a discount as they say as well.

I'll add that even if you have school-age kids like we do, going as late in August as possible give us the cheapest rates. (I'd imagine that the first week of June, if you're out like we are, is the same, but that's baseball/softball season). School starts on a Wednesday here, but Open Houses, etc. fall on Monday and/or Tuesday. So we usually go the week prior to that. Rates can be several hundred dollars cheaper than in July.

Of course I'm still waiting on the school calendar to be approved for next year so I can start planning. I *think* I know when school will start, but you never know when they'll change it up!!

I think my brother just booked a place for $1300 for late June. I agree that this is too much considering the quality of accomodations that are provided at most places. Hard to find a whole lot of spending money for food etc... when putting that much into a room. By the time you factor in gas money you are looking at around $1700 just in traveling expenses and that's staying at an average price resort. I hate that this happens because vacation time is some of the best part of people's lives.

I was waiting for Monday to see the "Biggest Sale Ever" as well. It was 35% off at the hotel we stayed at 2 years ago. Unfortunately, it is also $500 more (twice as much) than we paid at 30% off 2 years ago. We had finally reached the point where we could afford vacationing as a family and now costs and the economy has pushed us back out of taking a vacation.

I was excited about Myrtle Beach as judging by the cost to go everywhere else, it was the last affordable place to vacation at for middle income folks. For what it would cost for room, travel, and food, I can't see taking nearly a month's salary to go on vacation.

Definitely check into VRBO. We used it for the first time last summer and had a great experience. We were lucky enough to snag a 6 night opening in someone's calendar (we like to combine a 5 or 6 night stay with a 2-3 night stay with family in Va). The cost was $150 cheaper than the same resort's FIVE night stay in the same size condo booking through their website, which is what I had been pricing. So probably a good $300-$400 cheaper for the same length stay. We also do breakfast (cereal, pastries, etc.) and lunch (sandwiches or leftovers from the night before) in the condo every day. I refuse to actually cook on vacation, though, so we have dinner out every night. Usually the portions are plenty large enough to provide lunch for the next day, so I feel like I get a better value for my $$.

I can't compare accommodations in MB, but I can tell you that our personal vacation costs have also increased tremendously over the last 10 years, and I don't think it's just us.

I've heard that condo owners in this area are willing to take less if their condo is not renting, since less money is better than no money when it comes to renting your own space. If you decide you are NOT going to take a vacation at all, period, you might try negotiating with some rent-from-owners a week or even a month in advance just to see what you come up with.